Tool for twisting wires



(No Model.)

G .O.-AL'EXANDER.

TOOL FOR TWISTING WIRES.

No. 358.715. Patented Mar. 1, 1887.

ATENJT triers.

CORNELIUS O. ALEXANDER, OF HARTFORD CITY, INDIANA.

TOOL FOR TWISTING WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,715, dated March 1, 1887.

Application filed September 11, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l', CORNELIUS G. ALEXAN- DER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford City, in the county of Blackford and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tools for Twisting Wire in Making Picket Fences, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement relates to tools usedin the construction of wire fences in which pickets are bound, at regular distances apart, between parallel wires, which are successively twisted between the pickets. For this purpose I have devised a hand-tool, consisting of a handlebar having a slotted end, within which is pivoted a metallic twisting-bar slotted atits free end to receive and hold the parallel wires and twist them in the operation of causing the twisting slotted bar to make a complete revolution over the slotted end of said handle-bar in turning from the upper to the under side thereof. For this purpose the slotted twisting-bar is supported within the slot of the handle-bar, so as to receive the wires in its slot, and the operation of twisting is done by moving the handle-bar to raise the slotted twisting-bar, and causing the latter to be turned completely over the slotted end of the handle-bar from the upper to the under side of the latter. In this movement the handlebar is drawn down and toward the operator until the twisting-bar is extended horizontally, like a knife-blade, and then forcing the handle-bar upward and from the operator to close the twisting-bar on the under side of the handle-bar. In thus constructing the fence the wire is first stretched between the posts, so as to make parallel strands in pairs embracing the posts at different heights from the ground, and the pales are supported vertically between the wires at the proper distances apart, so that the twisting is made between the pickets, and the twisting-tool is released from the wire by a convenient and simple movement of the handle-bar to control the turning movement of the slotted twisting-bar.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in perspective the tool as it is applied in constructing a wire picket fence. Fig. 2 shows a Vertical section of the tool as it is applied to the wires to twist them. Fig, 3

Serial No. 2l3,30l. (No model.)

shows a similar view, the twisting-bar beingin the position in which it is turned to complete the twisting of the wires. Fig. 4 shows the tool as applied to the wires, and Fig. 5 shows in top View a portion of the twisted wire fence.

The tool consists of a handle-bar, A, preferably of wood, about sixteen inches long, to give sufiicient leverage, and a metal slotted pivoted bar, B, about five inches long, these two parts being connected at their ends by a strong pivot, O. The bar B has a slot, 01, at its free end, extending lengthwise about two inches, open at the end of the bar, and of a width suflicient to freely receive the wires, but not to allow the strands to pass over each other in the slot. This bar is about an inch and a quarter wide and three-tenths of an inch thick, and is pivoted within a slot, 9, formed in the handle-bar, of a length to permit the twisting-bar to be folded therein. This slotted end of the handle-bar is slightly bent or curved from the line of the handle part, and has a cross-pin, 1), upon which the twisting-bar rests when folded in position to receive the wires 0, to place them at the closed end of the slot in their parallel relation to each other, as shown in Fig. 2.

I prefer to form a shoulder, d, on the upper side of the handle-bar in coincident relation to the closed end of the slot of the twistingbar (when the latter is folded within the slot to receive the wires) to assist in holding the tool in right-angle relation to the wires. I prefer to bevel or curve the lower prong or arm of the twisting-bar at the open end of its slot to facilitate the entrance of the wires into the slot.

I have only shown one of the fence-posts D; but it will be understood that the wires 0 are strung taut to the posts side by side, and the pickets E are placed between the wires and suitably supported while the wires are being twisted between and upon them. The posts, wires, and pickets being thus put up, the twistingtool is then placed under the wires with the twisting-bar folded on top and its open slotted end on the opposite side of the wires from the operator. He then presses the tool up against the wires and pulls the tool toward him, bringing the wires into the slot against its closed end. He then depresses the handle, causing the twisting-bar to rise and pulls the tool toward him at the same time until the twistingbar extends horizontally from the end of the handle, and continues the 5 revolving motion of the twisting-bar by raising the handle and pushing it from him over the wires, pressing upon the latter until the slotted bar is folded back into the handle on the lower side and the twist is complete, as shown in Fig. 3. By this construction the slot ted bar makes a revolution upon the wires as a pivot, in which it is propelled by the handle-bar.

The tool is removed from the wires by pushing it from the operator in the direction of the arrow 3 until the slotted bar is oh" the wires. By a quick movement of the handlebar the operator then throws the twisting-bar up and over in folded position for commencing the next twist. The twisting of the wires is made at two points, f f, on each side of the slotted bar, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. t

' The tool can be used to untwist the wires to remove and replace a broken picket, and again 25 twist the wires to bind the picket in place.

I claim- 1. The wire-twisting device herein described and shown, consisting of the handle-bar A, slotted at one end and having a crossstop, b, in said slot, and the twisting-bar B, pivoted within-the slotted end of said handle-bar, and having a slot, a, open at its free end, for use in the construction of wire fences.

2. The device for twisting wires between the pickets of a fence, having the slotted handlebar, and the slotted twisting bar pivoted within the slotted end of the handle-bar, having a longitudinal slot, a, open at its end and adapted to be turned over the end of the latter from the upper to the under side thereof 0 in the twisting operation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CORNELIUS O. ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

WM. H. WHEELER, JOHN R. HUFFMAN. 

